BATTERY CHARGING AND TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICALLY POWERED VEHICLES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A battery management system, comprising:
- a battery control system;
a battery transfer station; and
an electric vehicle with a system for powering the vehicle, comprising a battery array with at least two individual batteries and an electric motor;
wherein the battery control system comprises an element to communicate with the battery transfer station.
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Abstract
A battery transfer and charging system for electric vehicles is described. A station removes one or more spent batteries of electric vehicles having multiple batteries. The receiving system includes an engagement device for engaging with engagement structures of the batteries, in order to assist the removal of spent batteries. Spent batteries removed from vehicles may be tested and charged as they progress through the system in an assembly-line fashion. Following recharge, batteries may be transferred to the displacement station for installation within later vehicles. Batteries which cannot adequately be recharged can be automatically removed from the system.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A battery management system, comprising:
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a battery control system; a battery transfer station; and an electric vehicle with a system for powering the vehicle, comprising a battery array with at least two individual batteries and an electric motor; wherein the battery control system comprises an element to communicate with the battery transfer station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of rapidly exchanging a battery of an electrically powered vehicle, the vehicle having at least two batteries within a compartment which extends through at least a portion of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a battery transfer station comprising; a drive through vehicle bay; a continuous battery transfer conveyor within the transfer station, the conveyor having a battery receiving end which receives an at least partially discharged battery from a first end of the battery compartment, and having a battery delivery end which delivers a charged battery to a second end of the battery compartment, the conveyor having multiple battery positions between the receiving and delivery ends to hold multiple batteries; a computer which controls the battery transfer conveyor by positioning the battery delivery end adjacent the individual discharged battery and then advancing the conveyor in single-battery-position increments to move batteries from the battery receiving end to the battery delivery end; and a communication element to transmit and receive information with a battery control system; communicating wirelessly or wired with the battery transfer system to receive the history and current charge level information for each separate battery; positioning the vehicle within the battery transfer station such that the first discharged battery is aligned with the battery receiving and delivery ends of the conveyor; receiving payment source information via a payment system to enable the computer to initiate a battery exchange operation; exchanging a first discharged battery with a first charged battery by programmably advancing the conveyor with the computer to shift the first charged battery from the delivery end of the conveyor into the compartment and moving the first discharged battery from the compartment to the receiving end of the conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification